2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Awards: Celebrating Diverse Storytelling and Creative Vision
The Sundance Institute recently announced the winners of the short film category at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The Short Film Awards Ceremony and Party Presented by Ketel One Vodka took place at The Park in Park City, where filmmakers from the 54 selected shorts gathered to celebrate the art of short-form storytelling. The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to “The Baddest Speechwriter of All” in the Nonfiction category, while Short Film Jury Awards were given to “Crisis Actor” (U.S. Fiction), “Jazz Infernal” (International Fiction), “The Boys and the Bees” (Nonfiction), and “Living with a Visionary” (Animation). Additionally, two Special Jury Awards were presented to Don Hertzfeldt for “Paper Trail” (Animation) and Noah Roja and Filippo Carrozza for “The Liars” (Argentina). The Festival short film jury members for this year included A.V. Rockwell, Liv Constable-Maxwell, and Martin Starr.
Heidi Zwicker, the Sundance Film Festival senior programmer for feature films and short films, expressed pride in the diverse range of storytelling and styles showcased in the short films program. The winning projects were announced midway through the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where a total of 97 feature-length and episodic works and 54 short films were screened in Park City, Salt Lake City, and online. Previous winners of the short film awards at the Sundance Film Festival include acclaimed titles like “The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing,” “The Masterpiece,” and “Thunder Road.”
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film awards recognized outstanding achievements in various categories. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry for “The Baddest Speechwriter of All,” a documentary that offers an intimate look at Dr. Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter. The Short Film Jury Award for U.S. Fiction went to Lily Platt for “Crisis Actor,” a film that delves into the chaotic night of an impulsive actress facing her addiction to drama. Will Niava received the Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction for “Jazz Infernal,” a story about a young Ivorian trumpeter finding his voice in Montréal. Arielle C. Knight's “The Boys and the Bees” won the Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction, showcasing Black beekeeping parents passing down knowledge to their sons. Stephen P. Neary's “Living with a Visionary” received the Short Film Jury Award for Animation, depicting a man caring for his wife with vivid hallucinations.
In addition to the main awards, special recognition was given to Don Hertzfeldt for “Paper Trail” with the Short Film Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. The film takes viewers on a journey through a man's life using paper as the medium, showcasing vision and ingenuity in storytelling. The 2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film awards celebrate the art of short filmmaking and the unique visions shared by filmmakers with audiences worldwide.